Remembering attractions that no longer exist in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Maggie Valley The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, with an estimated 12.5 million visitors annually. So it’s no surprise that entrepreneurs come to the area with high hopes of building the next big attraction to entice visitors on their way to
A Smoky Mountain native shares signs that you, like she, might be addicted to Dolly Parton’s namesake park Dollywood is known as the friendliest theme park in the world, and for those of us who grew up with the park practically in our backyard as I did, visiting Dollywood feels like coming home for the holidays. Of course, there are
A Smoky Mountain local shares his favorite spots for all-day breakfast and brunch Folks at the Pancake Pantry struck gold in the form of flapjacks when they came to the Smokies in the 1960s, and then pancake houses began popping up like weeds … if weeds were buttery and delicious, that is. But what’s that? You want to eat breakfast
A Smoky Mountain local shares his top picks for area bars in Gatlinburg and the surrounding area One person’s idea of a great bar could be the next person’s idea of a night in the Netherworld with boozed-up accountants botching the chorus to “Dancing Queen.” Therefore, a bar recommendation is hard work. You’ve got to prod and pry. Certainly, in
A local rounds up a list of top diners in the Pigeon Forge area Classic diner fare isn’t fancy. Typically, it’s juicy burgers and fries washed down with a thick milkshake. Classic Southern comfort foods are hard to beat. But what I like about a good diner – aside from the food – is the nostalgia. I’m a sucker for any
These are the closest airports to Gatlinburg TN What makes the Great Smoky Mountains National Park such a popular tourist location? Well, there’s the natural beauty, of course. There’s also Dollywood and lots of other entertainment that has bolstered the region’s tourism. But there’s another reason: Location, location, location. Since I live under an hour away from the heart of
Local reminisces on old Water Boggan attraction in Pigeon Forge As an East Tennessee local, I’ve seen plenty of Pigeon Forge attractions that have come and gone. Some were products of the time period. It was the 70s and 80s. If you could talk someone into financing it, you could make it a reality. I think, looking back, not every
A local rounds up a list of new and coming soon restaurants for Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg As a local who has been hanging out in and around the Smoky Mountains for more than 30 years, I’ve become aware of the juxtaposition of the timeless mountains and the fleeting nature of the communities therein. Places like Cades Cove, Grotto Falls
Photos from the 1970s remind us of the park that came before Dollywood: Pigeon Forge’s Silver Dollar City Six Flags, Disney, Cedar Point and, yes, Dollywood, are managed with a statistical mastery of people’s behaviors. They are run with precise technologies that track wait times, dining and character interactions. On good days, the best modern amusement parks, of which Dollywood
A local’s honest review of the WonderWorks museum in Pigeon Forge TN The bend of the Parkway from Sevierville to Pigeon Forge is one of the more surreal stretches of land in the Smoky Mountains. As you cross the Hard Rock Cafe, things get weird quickly. There’s the looming silhouette of the Titanic museum rising above the hill ahead. Across the